Ivan Dmitri (or Dmitre) (b. February 3, 1900; d. April 25, 1968), born Levon Fairchild West (Assadoorian), was an American etcher and photographic artist.
[citation needed] The family changed its name to "West" when Levon and his brothers did not want to enlist in the service during World War I under their Armenian last name, Assadoorian.
Levon West moved often as a boy, as his father preached in a series of North Dakota towns.
When West heard Lindbergh had flown the Spirit of St. Louis on a record breaking trans-Atlantic flight, he hurriedly did an etching from his sketches and took it to the New York Times.
Another SEP cover (May 16, 1944) was a photo of General 'Hap' Arnold, with B-17's flying overhead, with a B-17 crew planning a flight.
Dmitri believed that such a move was necessary in order for the public to treat photography as art, rather than just something reserved for smaller mediums like books, magazines and newspapers.
"[8] West was a recipient of the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award in April 1962, the third person so inducted.